Arotrophora arcuatalis

Taxobox
name = "Arotrophora arcuatalis"


image_width =
image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Lepidoptera
subordo = Ditrysia
superfamilia = Tortricoidea
familia = Tortricidae
genus = "Arotrophora"
species = "A. arcuatalis"
binomial = "Arotrophora arcuatalis"
binomial_authority = Walker

"Arotrophora arcuatalis", commonly known as "Banksia Boring Moth" or rarely "Banksia Moth", is a species of Australian tortrid moth best known as a pest of "Banksia".

First described by Francis Walker in 1865,cite web | url = http://www.nhm.ac.uk/jdsml/research-curation/projects/lepindex/detail.dsml?TaxonNo=87971.0 | accessdate = 2007-05-16 | title = Arotrophora arcuatalis | work = Global Lepidoptera Names Index | publisher = Natural History Museum] it is the type species for "Arotrophora". It occurs throughout coastal and sub-coastal areas of southern Australia.cite journal | author = Powell, J. A. and I. F. B. Common | year = 1985 | title = Oviposition patterns and egg characteristics of Australian Tortricine moths (Lepidoptera: Tortridae) | journal = Australian Journal of Zoology | volume = 33 | pages = 179–216 | doi = 10.1071/ZO9850179] Adults are grey with brown and white markings.cite web | title = Arotrophora arcuatalis | url = http://www.usyd.edu.au/museums/larvae/tort/arcuat.html | accessdate = 2007-05-16]

The moth lays its eggs on the surface of the flower spikes of "Banksia" while in early bud, and the larvae tunnel into the axis of the spike, boring from follicle to follicle to consume the seeds. They infest a wide range of "Banksia" species, in some species substantially reducing the seed set.cite journal | author = Scott, John K. | year = 1982 | title = The impact of destructive insects on reproduction in six species of Banksia L.f. (Proteaceae) | journal = Australian Journal of Zoology | volume = 30 | issue = 6 | pages = 901–921 | doi = 10.1071/ZO9820901] In the cut flower industry, their tunnelling affects the cosmetic qualities of flower spikes, rendering them unsaleable. As a result there has been significant research into control of the moth, including identification of its pheromones.cite web | url = http://www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/compendium/1995/pr-035.html | accessdate = 2007-05-16 | title = The identification of the sex pheromone of the Banksia pest Arotrophora arcuatalis | work = Research Compendium 1995 | publisher = Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), Australian Government]

References

External links

* (with image)

Further reading

*
*